WCC again trying to have their cake & eat it

[chairman]

Remember how I had to meticulously point out to the utterly incompetent WCC Chief Exec Mike More about the "Either/Or" scenarios both of which would merit dismissal?

Well looks like their at it again!!

In desperately trying to defend our claims that this vile tax is merely money-making, WCC Parking Department have prepared and sent to our lawyers tables wherein they have vastly over-inflated the costs to make the projected profit look small.

Problem for WCC Parking Department mathematicians (we have seen how Onesize Fitsall adds £1m + £1.5m and get £2.01m as well as 44 + 45 = 99) is that, in doing so, they want a High Court Judge to believe that, since March 2009, where dear old Kevin Goad admitted in front of us all at the B&S Scrutiny Meeting, that "Enforcement Costs = 75% of Enforcement Revenue", and even in this table, the author admits that "Historically Enforcement Costs run at 80% of Revenue", these costs have suddenly exploded to an incredible 134%

So, the 2 Scenario formula again:-
1) Either they are lying to the High Court
2) Their managerial competence must be on a par with the infamous Board of Marconi to render one of the most profitable elements of WCC accounts is now running at a loss.....all in a mere 11 months!!

When they follow their own logic through, they produce another forecast whereby they reckon the MCS is actually going to make a loss of £430,000 of Resident Tax-payers money!!

 

Here is Labour Cllr Paul Dimoldenberg's Press release on the revelations:-

PRESS NOTICE

24th February 2010

WESTMINSTER CONSERVATIVES SET TO LOSE £430,000 ON MOTORBIKE PARKING CHARGES

Westminster City Council's controversial and unpopular motorbike parking charges are predicted to make a loss of over £430,000 in 2009/10, prompting Labour Councillors to call for an immediate scrapping of the £1 a day motorbike parking charge.

According to documents received by Labour Councillors, the Council's projected income is expected to be £2,022,594, but expenditure is predicted to be £2,453,094, resulting in a loss to the Council of £430,500.

A copy of the detailed figures is attached.

Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg, Leader of the Labour Group, said:

"These figures show beyond doubt that not only are Westminster's motorbike charges unpopular, controversial and divisive, but they are also a financial disaster for Westminster Council Tax payers"

"Why should Westminster residents have to subsidise these massive loss-making motorbike parking charges which nobody wants and nobody voted for? The £430,000 could be much better spent on services for people in need."

"Following the £17 million in Icelandic Banks and the £20 million shortfall in parking revenue, this latest Conservative financial blunder shows the Council's finances in total tatters. Only Westminster Conservatives could introduce a charge that actually makes a loss. These loss-making charges should be scrapped without further delay. If the Conservatives don't scrap this loss making charge now then Labour will do so after the May elections."

ENDS

Contact Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg on 7566 7960 or 07864 042 584

[The Bald Eagle]

It's interesting to note that while I am currently reading this topic along with one other member, there are 15 "guests" also online reading it.  I can't help but think that a few of these are from Westmonster CC.  If it is them I have three messages for their consideration. 

(1) When you're in a hole stop digging.
(2) SCRAP THE TAX
(3) DON'T FUCK WITH THE BIKERS.

[Ogri]

Is it just me or do they seem to be in complete disarray? They appear to be running around spastically with no concept of strategy through forward-planning.

It seems that power has not only corrupted their souls but also their minds.

[gibbo]

couldn't have put it better myself  bald eagle              and besides shouldn't they be working instead of spying on us !!

[bike78]

The residents of Westminster are quite baffled as to why something that was free should now be costing us so much money, and why our money is being swallowed up by private companies. It all smells of dead fish.

I better just get on and ask my MP what he thinks about this latest huge loss.

[gibbo]

so here is the reality of camerons claim that a  conservative govt could run the country so much more efficiently,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, we need to think very hard come election night ! 

[The Bald Eagle]

Actually gibbo, I don't think I will have to think very hard at all about not voting Tory if they continue to refuse to reign in rebel tories.  Cameron was quick enough to condemn his fellow MPs when the expenses scandal broke, so why is he holding back on his flagship council.  Just think what the impact might be if a Shirley Porter type scandal broke just before a general election.  I bet the LibDems would be rubbing their hands with glee while watching the bully Labour party and the corrupt Tory party crash and burn.

I've said it before, but I think it is worth repeating.

DON'T FUCK WITH THE BIKERS!

[templar]

I have always been a Tory voter (In as much as I have voted in the past, which isn't much), but this crap has seriously dissuaded me from voting for them this time round. And I'm certainly going to vote, because the expenses scandal amongst other things in the last 2 years has got my blood boiling at politics in general.

Unfortunately, I don't see who else to vote for at this stage. I was thinking Lib Dem, but the ever useless Sarah Teather has been sitting on my letter for a week, and not even a "Thanks, will get to you soon". After the Economic debacle - and everything to do with Gordon Brown - I'm not voting Labour. Which leaves me with fringe parties. I wouldn't vote BNP for all the hookers in Thailand, and voting for UKIP is effectively voting for my Eastern European Girlfriend to get deported. And don't even start me on the Greens - they should stop messing about in politics, and stay in their yurt, knitting yoghurt, like the rest of the ageing hippies.

So for me, it's still very much all to play for. If Cameron pulls his finger out and gives WCC a kicking, then they get my vote in all likelihood. If Sarah Teather does what I pay her to do, and answer my letter, then the Lib Dems may get it. Otherwise, I'm sorely tempted to wipe my arse with the voting paper, and stuff it in the ballot box, because pretty much all the choices on it are shit anyway.

[ldn1702]

Can somone please post the link to Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg's press release? I can't find it.

[Napoleon]

Templar

The solution as I see it is staring us in the face.....well, down the barrel of a megaphone.

We need to follow Legolas's stance and convince Warren to stand for PM -

he gets my vote (but I'm biased!!) - failing which, the first Independent name on the ballot paper

BTW, LDN 1702 - re Cllr Dimoldenberg - he left his phone number so why don't you call him direct and don't forget to thank him for backing the bikers - I remember him being there right at the start at one of our Trafalgar Demos - think he actually spoke at it.

[UK France bikers.com]

Hum, it's really interesting to hear that Westminster's bike parking tax is loss making... because... no later than last night, we were writing a post in which we reported that Philippe Lerouge, CEO of PayByPhone in France, said that charging motorcyclists for parking was not a financially viable option and, presumably for this reason, not a single French council has actually asked for the system to be designed for motorcycle use... and guess what, Westminster's bike parking tax is loss making!
But let's not forget that Westminster Conservatives know better than everyone else, don't they, to the extent that consultation is an option for them

http://ukfrancebikers.com/2010/02/23/paris-say-non-to-westminsters-bike-parking-tax-for-now-anyway/

[ldn1702]

I think we can have a big round of applause for Captain Rathbone and their team, whoever they are, because without their art work, the bike parking tax loss would have *only* been in the region of £370,000

[Legolas]

I smell the beginnings of an exit strategy. I can see Chalkley's press release now:

'We would like to thank the motorcycling community for drawing our attention to the factors which we concede have shown motorcycle parking charges to be non-viable. As such motorcycle parking charges are to be withdrawn immediately. This decision has been made in the best interests of the Westminster council taxpayer and is in no way connected to the forthcoming high court case.'

I'm quoting, but for the record, he hasn't actually said this...


...yet!
 

Oh well - it's a nice dream. 

[ldn1702]

I smell the beginnings of an exit strategy. I can see Chalkley's press release now:

'We would like to thank the motorcycling community for drawing our attention to the factors which we concede have shown motorcycle parking charges to be non-viable. As such motorcycle parking charges are to be withdrawn immediately. This decision has been made in the best interests of the Westminster council taxpayer and is in no way connected to the forthcoming high court case.'

I'm quoting, but for the record, he hasn't actually said this...


...yet!
 

Oh well - it's a nice dream. 

I think he will insinuate something like this but in a slightly less direct manner because, remember, the bike parking tax is still alive to satisfy Chalkley's ego, no other reason.

[FuBaR]

I dont think we can vote for any party, they all seem to be hiding very big skeletons in their closets, I think I will be writing something on my ballet paper along the lines of "I dont see anyone on here worthy of my vote, it is about time someone with some common sense and moral values started their own party, or give us a politician who isnt corrupt... if you can find one!"

[Ogri]

I smell the beginnings of an exit strategy.

Possibly,, or (perhaps more likely) the beginnings of their case for raising the charges to a point where they break even (according to them).

[kaychanc]

Possibly,, or (perhaps more likely) the beginnings of their case for raising the charges to a point where they break even (according to them).

hmmmm.... didn't they say that they WOULDN'T raise the charge for at least 5 years?

[Ogri]

3 years I believe, which means August 2011.

[1frog]

If they can find a way to prove the bike parking tax is a loss making scheme, they will have a pretty good excuse to put up the charge before 08/11 and I have no doubt they will try. In a way it would only rally more and more poeple against WCC.
We will see if poeple will still say in a year or so it is only £2.50 or £5.00 a day.......

[kaychanc]

If they can find a way to prove the bike parking tax is a loss making scheme, they will have a pretty good excuse to put up the charge before 08/11 and I have no doubt they will try. In a way it would only rally more and more poeple against WCC.
We will see if poeple will still say in a year or so it is only £2.50 or £5.00 a day.......

still not enough....